Letter: Can't find STEM workers to hire

There absolutely is a shortage of graduates in the STEM fields. Photo Credit: iStock

In the March 5 letter "Job training won't lower unemployment," the writer says that "we supposedly have a shortage of graduates in the STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering and math."

There absolutely is a shortage of graduates in the STEM fields. I'm an executive director for a large securities firm in Manhattan, specializing in information technology application development and systems integration. We have several entry- to mid-level positions open at the moment that cannot be filled.

The resumes that we receive are predominantly H1B visa candidates from India. Although these candidates possess advanced engineering and computer science degrees, they do not have the problem-solving skills needed for financial engineering. American candidates are nonexistent.

We need engineering and computer science graduates who can also succeed within the business community. On-the-job training is not sufficient. Candidates without a grasp of foundational computer science and engineering concepts will not succeed.

Joe Miller, Manhattan

Editor's note: The writer is an electrical engineering and computer science graduate of Stony Brook University.